Anchor system for securing attachments to handles
The present invention is an apparatus for installing attachments on handles. The invention includes first and second pieces with curved sections that form a generally cylindrical volume around the handle. The first and second pieces are rotatably connected about a hinge axis and may be moved to and from a locked position around handle. A flap having a toothed surface is connected to an end of the second piece, and a tooth extending from an end of the first piece can engage the toothed surface to inhibit inadvertent release of the apparatus from the handle.
This original non-provisional application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/907,261, filed Nov. 21, 2013, which is incorporated by reference.
FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCHNot applicable.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to article carriers. More specifically, the invention is an anchor for securing an attachment to a horizontally-oriented handle, such as the handle of a shopping cart.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common to have experienced the unfortunate incident of losing small items while shopping. These items usually end up on the floor of the store where they may be stepped on, damaged or permanently lost. And even if the small item is not lost, the shopper must deal with keeping track of the items, resulting in an inconvenience for the shopper.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe present invention is an apparatus for installing attachments on handles, which attachments may be used for carrying small articles while shopping. The invention includes first and second pieces with curved sections that form a generally cylindrical volume around the handle. The first and second pieces are rotatably connected about a hinge axis and may be moved to and from a locked position. A flap having a toothed surface is connected to an end of the second piece, and a tooth extending from an end of the first piece can engage the toothed surface to inhibit inadvertent release of the anchor from the handle.
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The top and bottom pieces 18, 20 of the anchor 12 are held in the locked position by a locking means between the two items. Although other locking means are contemplated, preferably, the locking means is a ratchet-type mechanism. In this regard, the flap 50 extends over the top piece 18 such that the toothed surface 52 (see
The anchor 12 is configured for attaching a product line of various attachments. In this regard, the projection 26 on the top piece 18 of the anchor 12 has one or more sets 56a, 56b of hooked members radially outward of the first and second bars 22, 24, as shown in
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The rotation preventer 72 may be implemented in a notch 82 within the projection 26 on the anchor 12, as shown in
As noted, the rotation preventers 72 discourage rotation between the anchor 12 and the attachment 14 about hinge axis y. The nodules 76 on the surface 74 of the rotation preventer 72 are sized such that when the appropriate amount of rotational force is applied about hinge axis y, the applicable side portion 80 of the protrusions 66 on the attachment 14 can slide over them. In contrast, when minimal force is applied the side portion 80 will rest between the nodules 76.
In order to minimize the rotational force about hinge axis y, the attachment 14 may be rested on the shopping cart. In this regard, the distance between the shopping cart handle 46 and the rest point for the attachment 14 may vary according to the type of shopping cart being used. Additionally, the elevation of the shopping cart handle 46 with respect to the rest point of the attachment 14 may also vary, with some shopping cart handles being higher than the rest point and others being lower than the rest point. Rotation of the anchor 12 with respect to the attachment 14 about hinge axis y allows the device to be adjusted to a suitable angle so that it can account for these variances.
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The device described herein may be constructed from a wide range of materials. For example, material options such as plastic or silicone are possible, along with other material. The grip insert as of right now is a type of foam but may be any material that would provide a grip, such as a gel-based, sticky gel, rubber, or non-slip material.
The invention described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings describes a specific embodiment. The present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein.
Claims
1. An apparatus for installing attachments on handles, the apparatus comprising: wherein the first piece comprises at least one set of first hooked members proximal to the free end of the projection, each set of first hooked members having at least one first arced surface facing a first direction and at least one second arced surface facing a second direction, each of the first arced surface and the second arced surface at least partially circumscribing the second hinge axis.
- a first piece having a first curved section with a first end, a second end, and a first concave surface between the first end and the second end, the first piece further having a projection adjacent to and extending away from the first end, the projection having a free end, a first surface, a second surface, and at least one surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and defining at least one opening between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first hinge axis intersecting the projection;
- a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis, the free end of the projection being between the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis;
- at least one bar within the at least one opening, the at least one bar having a longitudinal axis collinear with the first hinge axis;
- a second piece having a second curved section with a first end, a second end, and a second concave surface between the first end and the second end, the second piece rotatably connected to the first piece at the first hinge axis, and
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reference plane parallel to and intersecting the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis, the reference plane intersecting the first concave surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an attachment having a side portion, at least one protrusion extending from the side portion, and at least one attachment bar attached to the at least one protrusion, the at least one attachment bar having a longitudinal axis collinear with the second hinge axis.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second piece comprises at least one set of second hooked members proximal to the second end of the second piece and partially occupying the at least one opening of the first piece, said at least one set of second hooked members having at least one first arced surface facing a first direction and at least one second arced surface facing a second direction, each of the first arced surface and second arced surface at least partially circumscribing the first hinge axis.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one rotation preventer attached to the projection, the rotation preventer having a surface intersecting the second hinge axis and a plurality of nodules extending from the surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one rotation preventer contacts the projection.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one grip insert attached to each concave surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first concave surface and the second concave surface partially define a handle volume having open ends.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flap connected to the second end of the second piece, the flap having a toothed surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a tooth extending radially from the first curved section.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising the tooth in contact with the toothed surface.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising locking means for holding the first piece and the second piece in a locked position.
13. An apparatus for installing attachments on handles, the apparatus comprising:
- a first piece having a first curved section with a first end, a second end, and a first concave surface between the first end and the second end, the first piece further having a projection adjacent to and extending away from the first end, the projection having a free end, a first surface, a second surface, and at least one surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and defining at least one opening between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first hinge axis intersecting the projection;
- a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis, the free end of the projection being between the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis;
- at least one bar within the at least one opening, the at least one bar having a longitudinal axis collinear with the first hinge axis;
- a second piece having a second curved section with a first end, a second end, and a second concave surface between the first end and the second end, the second piece rotatably connected to the first piece at the first hinge axis; and
- at least one rotation preventer attached to the projection, the rotation preventer having a surface intersecting the second hinge axis and a plurality of nodules extending from the surface.
14. An apparatus for installing attachments on handles, the apparatus comprising:
- a first piece having a first curved section with a first end, a second end, and a first concave surface between the first end and the second end, the first piece further having a projection adjacent to and extending away from the first end, the projection having a free end, a first surface, a second surface, and at least one surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and defining at least one opening between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first hinge axis intersecting the projection;
- a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis, the free end of the projection being between the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis;
- at least one bar within the at least one opening, the at least one bar having a longitudinal axis collinear with the first hinge axis;
- a second piece having a second curved section with a first end, a second end, and a second concave surface between the first end and the second end, the second piece rotatably connected to the first piece at the first hinge axis; and
- at least one grip insert attached to each concave surface.
15. An apparatus for installing attachments on handles, the apparatus comprising:
- a first piece having a first curved section with a first end, a second end, and a first concave surface between the first end and the second end, the first piece further having a projection adjacent to and extending away from the first end, the projection having a free end, a first surface, a second surface, and at least one surface extending between the first surface and the second surface and defining at least one opening between the first surface and the second surface;
- a first hinge axis intersecting the projection;
- a second hinge axis parallel to the first hinge axis, the free end of the projection being between the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis;
- at least one bar within the at least one opening, the at least one bar having a longitudinal axis collinear with the first hinge axis;
- a second piece having a second curved section with a first end, a second end, and a second concave surface between the first end and the second end, the second piece rotatably connected to the first piece at the first hinge axis; and
- a flap connected to the second end of the second piece, the flap having a toothed surface.
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- “Ontray2go” website, Internet website, Copyright 2007, available at www.ontray2go.com (last visited Mar. 24, 2016).
Type: Grant
Filed: Nov 20, 2014
Date of Patent: Jan 10, 2017
Inventor: Julie Beth Penrod (Allen, TX)
Primary Examiner: Anita M King
Application Number: 14/549,136
International Classification: F16B 2/10 (20060101); B62B 3/14 (20060101);